In this article I’ll focus on the top applications that make the best interactive PDFs and eBooks, including their unique features and functionalities.
As a designer, educator, marketer, or an author, you can make use of videos, links, animations, and many other tools that will make your digital publications, interactive and professional.
Key Points & Best Software To Create Interactive PDFs and Ebooks List
| Software Name | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Adobe InDesign | Industry-standard for interactive PDFs; supports buttons, forms, videos, animations, and EPUB export. |
| Canva | User-friendly drag-and-drop editor; allows hyperlinks, embedded media, and PDF export; great for beginners. |
| Visme | Visual content creation tool; supports interactivity with pop-ups, buttons, videos, and animations; exports to PDF or HTML5. |
| Kotobee Author | Specialized for interactive eBooks; supports quizzes, videos, widgets; exports to EPUB, MOBI, and SCORM-compliant formats. |
| Lucidpress (Marq) | Cloud-based design tool; allows for interactive elements like hyperlinks and embedded videos; easy collaboration and PDF export. |
| Flipsnack | Converts PDFs to interactive flipbooks; supports links, videos, forms; ideal for marketing and publishing. |
| Designrr | eBook creation tool; imports content from blogs, Word, or PDFs; supports media embedding and automatic formatting. |
| Calibre (with plugins) | Open-source eBook manager; with plugins, supports interactive EPUBs; excellent for eBook conversion and metadata editing. |
| Flip PDF Plus Pro | Turns static PDFs into interactive flipbooks; supports multimedia, hyperlinks, page transitions, and mobile compatibility. |
| Affinity Publisher | Professional publishing tool; allows buttons, hyperlinks, anchors, and PDF forms; affordable one-time purchase. |
10 Best Software To Create Interactive PDFs and Ebooks
1.Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is one of best professional publishing and layout design software. It lets users to make hyperlinked buttons, videos, and animated instructions to make interactive EPUB and PDFs.
InDesign also allows the creation of forms and the insertion of multimedia, which makes it suitable for digital brochures and magazines as well as other interactive documents. Exports are as interactive PDFs or EPUBs (reflowable and fixed layout).
As it contains powerful features and provides precise control over typography and layout, it is favored by many publishers and designers. In many cases, it’s better for advanced users.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Interactive PDFs | Supports buttons, hyperlinks, and form fields |
| Multimedia Integration | Embed videos, audio, and animations |
| EPUB Export | Create reflowable and fixed-layout eBooks |
| Precision Layout | Advanced typography and layout control |
| Professional Templates | Access to a wide range of design templates |
| Integration | Works seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud suite |
| PDF Forms | Create fillable and interactive PDF forms |
| Accessibility Support | Tools to ensure PDFs are accessible (t |
2.Canva
Canva is an online design tool that is popular because the people using it believe that it is easy to navigate. It also demonstrates the ability to create attractive documents which could then be exported to interactive PDF documents with working hyperlinks.
Although more advanced interactive features such as embedding videos or animations on the PDF are not supported, it is an excellent starting point for users aiming to achieve refined, polished documents swiftly.
Over a thousand templates for eBooks, presentations, and even brochures are supplied. There is also collaborative and cloud storage support.
Although its advanced interactivity options are limited, its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface is a boon to content creators, educators, and small businesses looking to quickly generate attractive documents.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Interactive PDFs | Supports buttons, hyperlinks, and form fields |
| Multimedia Integration | Embed videos, audio, and animations |
| EPUB Export | Create reflowable and fixed-layout eBooks |
| Precision Layout | Advanced typography and layout control |
| Professional Templates | Access to a wide range of design templates |
| Integration | Works seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud suite |
| PDF Forms | Create fillable and interactive PDF forms |
| Accessibility Support | Tools to ensure PDFs are accessible (tags, alt text, reading order) |
3.Visme
Visme is a powerful type of tool which is used to create visual content. It is made for people who want to create engaging and interactive documents such as infographics, eBooks and reports. In presentations and documents, videos, hyperlinks, animations and even interactive pop-up charts are supported.
Its user-friendly cloud-based editor also offers templates and design tools for easy drag-and-drop design. Users can design infographics, eBooks and even reports with rich interactivity.
Projects can be exported as hosted documents, presentations or even PDF documents. Projects can also be exported as hosted documents, presentations, or PDF.
Visme is great for marketers, educators, and businesses as it offers simplicity balanced with powerful features, although some advanced features available only in paid plans.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Interactive Elements | Add pop-ups, buttons, links, and animations |
| Multimedia Support | Embed videos, audio, and live content |
| Data Visualization | Create charts, graphs, and infographics |
| Templates & Themes | Professionally designed templates for all types of documents |
| Analytics | Track document views and engagement |
| Cloud-Based Editor | Create and access projects from anywhere |
| PDF/HTML5 Export | Export as interactive PDFs or web-based formats |
| Branding Tools | Lock branding elements for consistent documents |
4.Kotobee Author
Kotobee Author is an interactive eBook creator that can be used to create immersive eBooks. It can be used to create educational eBooks since Kotobee can incorporate multimedia like videos, audio files, animations, quizzes, and pop-up widgets into the text.
It also exports in various formats including EPUB, MOBI, and PDF. Other apps can also be created which will be compatible with the web. For e-learning, Kotobee can .scorm ZIP file eBook exports. It is a mobile eBook application generator too.
Kotobee is useful for various educators and for publishers because it provides branding along with cloud publishing and DRM rights for protection of the content. Though Kotobee has mobile APP, it digitalizes books and educational content.
Kotobee does have some limitations for lower tiered plans, but the wide variety of features makes it Kotobee useful for digital textbooks and interactive novels for school curriculums.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| eBook Interactivity | Add quizzes, videos, audio, and widgets |
| Multi-format Export | Export to EPUB, MOBI, PDF, Web, and mobile apps |
| SCORM Compliance | Integrate with LMS platforms |
| DRM Protection | Secure content with digital rights management |
| Branding Options | Customize interface and logos |
| Cross-Platform Publishing | Distribute on web, mobile, and desktop platforms |
| Cloud Publishing | Host books online with analytics and updates |
| Education Focused | Perfect for digital textbooks and academic content |
5.Lucidpress (Marq)
Marq, previously known as Lucidpress, serves as a design and publishing software targeted towards enterprises and marketing teams. It assists users in creating documents that are not only interactive but also rich in content, including videos, forms, and links.
Through proper template and asset management, Marq’s emphasis on brand consistency helps users remain on brand. Digital sharing and exporting documents as interactive PDFs is possible.
Marq’s cloud-hosted solution enables collaborative work while also allowing role-specific access and approval workflows. It is great for client proposals, internal newsletters, and marketing brochures, even though it is not as advanced as Adobe InDesign. Despite this, users are limited to online access for full interactivity as offline PDFs are not fully functional.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Interactive Design Tools | Add clickable links, videos, and forms |
| Cloud-Based Collaboration | Real-time team editing and approval workflows |
| Brand Templates | Lock elements to maintain branding |
| PDF Export | Export interactive and print-ready PDFs |
| Video Embedding | Embed YouTube or uploaded video files |
| Easy Publishing | Share online with live links or embed codes |
| Drag-and-Drop Editor | Simple and intuitive design experience |
| Marketing-Friendly | Ideal for brochures, reports, and proposals |
6.Flipsnack
Flipsnack converts static PDFs into animated interactive flipbooks. Users can embed videos, audio, shopping buttons, forms, and even hyperlinks into digital publications. Flipsnack is best for making online magazines, catalogs, portfolios and brochures.
It has a simple drag and drop interface, and flipbooks can be shared through links, embedded in websites, or downloaded as HTML5 files.
Although basic interactive PDFs can be exported, its strength is in web-based interactive experiences. Flipsnack works well for marketers, publishers and content creators who need a stylish, online, page-flipping reading tool.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Flipbook Animation | Realistic page-turning effects |
| Interactive Elements | Add videos, audio, links, forms, and product buttons |
| Online Publishing | Share via links or embed on websites |
| PDF Upload | Convert existing PDFs into interactive flipbooks |
| HTML5 Export | Download for offline use or self-hosting |
| Analytics Integration | Track reader engagement with Google Analytics |
| Templates & Editor | Pre-made templates with customization tools |
| E-commerce Integration | Add shopping buttons and pricing for catalogs |
7.Designrr
Designrr is an eBook and lead magnet builder. It can convert blog posts, articles, or Word documents into eBooks and includes interactive features like embedded videos, audio, and styled content.
For marketers, bloggers and authors who want to repurpose content quickly, Designrr is best as it can create professional-looking PDFs and eBooks.
With the use of pre-built templates and drag and drop design, users can export as PDF, Kindle, EPUB and more. It does not require design skills and is user-friendly.
Although less powerful than InDesign, it is a good choice for quick, content-focused eBooks with light interactivity.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Content Import | Import from blog posts, Word files, or PDFs |
| Multimedia Support | Embed videos, audio, and links |
| Templates & Themes | Professionally designed and customizable templates |
| Export Formats | Export to PDF, Kindle, EPUB, and more |
| Auto Formatting | Automatically formats text and images |
| One-Click eBook Creation | Fast turnaround for content repurposing |
| Covers & Branding | Customize cover pages and branding elements |
| Lead Generation Tools | Includes features to create lead magnets |
8.Calibre (with plugins)
Calibre is an open-source eBook management software which is free to use. It is a versatile tool to use since its main functions are editing and converting eBooks, but it can also manage them.
In addition to editing and converting eBooks, Calibre is capable of enhancement through plugins. It is possible to edit EPUB files to have multimedia elements and also include hyperlinks, tables of content, and simple animations.
It is a great tool to use when converting between formats like EPUB, MOBI, and PDF. Although it does not have a drag-and-drop designer interface, it offers a lot of customization options.
Best for Tech and Author users, as it gives complete control over the eBook’s metadata, formatting, and structure.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Format Conversion | Convert between EPUB, MOBI, PDF, AZW3, and more |
| eBook Editing | Edit eBooks directly (with plugin support) |
| Metadata Management | Add and modify book metadata |
| Plugin Ecosystem | Extend features with third-party plugins |
| Library Management | Organize and manage large collections |
| Open Source | Free and community-driven |
| Scripting Support | Automation via command-line and scripting |
| Lightweight Interactivity | Add links, TOC, and simple enhancements with plugins |
9.Flip PDF Plus Pro
Flip PDF Plus Pro is a digital publishing tool that transforms static PDF documents into dynamic and interactive flipbooks. It allows users to embed videos, audio files and other multimedia elements, as well as interactive buttons, forms and hyperlinks.
It is possible to create advanced reading experiences by using pre-made templates and adding page transitions. Flipbooks created with this tool can be published online, offline, or stored on USB and CD.
The software is user friendly, making it a great choice for marketers, publishers, and educators who need a captivating format for digital presentations. With Flip PDF Plus Pro, users can create and publish catalogs, brochures and magazines which are mobile friendly and can be tracked with Google Analytics.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Page Flip Animation | Create realistic digital magazines and catalogs |
| Multimedia Integration | Embed video, audio, images, links, and forms |
| Pre-designed Templates | Use professional layouts with full customization |
| Mobile Optimization | Flipbooks work across devices |
| Offline & Online Publishing | Export to web, app, CD, USB, and offline installers |
| Google Analytics Integration | Track user engagement and behavior |
| Batch Conversion | Convert multiple PDFs into flipbooks at once |
| eCommerce Support | Add pricing, buy buttons, and shopping cart features |
10.Affinity Publisher
Affinity Publisher is a budget-friendly professional desktop publishing software with powerful design capabilities. It allows for the creation of interactive PDFs with links, buttons, bookmarks, and even form fields.
The Affinity ecosystem provides advanced typography and layout features, and integration with Affinity Photo and Designer provides a full design suite experience. It is ideal for sleek and professional eBooks, reports, and brochures, although it does lack some features like video embedding.
Because of the one-time purchase model, it is a cost-effective substitute for Adobe InDesign. This software is perfect for authors and designers who prefer complete layout and interactivity freedom and do not want to pay recurring subscription fees.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Interactive PDF Support | Create clickable links, buttons, and bookmarks |
| Advanced Typography | Full control over fonts, spacing, and styles |
| Master Pages | Apply consistent layouts across documents |
| Preflight and Proofing | Check documents before export |
| PDF and Print Export | Export for print or digital distribution |
| One-Time Purchase | No subscription; affordable pricing |
| Seamless Integration | Works with Affinity Photo and Designer |
| Professional Layout Tools | Ideal for books, brochures, and marketing materials |
Conclusion
In conclusion, A professional looking digital book requires digital publishing software, and every individual has their own preferences and skills.
Different types of professionals will look at Adobe InDesign and Affinity Publisher as their go to software, while less experienced users may prefer Canva or Designrr.
Kotobee and Flip PDF Pro are excellent when it comes to interactivity. Each platform offers a different set of tools which makes sure every creator is able to get the best out of their work.
FAQ
Which software is best for professional interactive PDF design?
Adobe InDesign and Affinity Publisher are top choices for professionals.
What’s a good beginner-friendly tool?
Canva and Designrr are easy to use with no design experience required.
What’s best for flipbook-style interactive PDFs?
Flip PDF Plus Pro and Flipsnack are ideal for flipbook animations and web sharing.